Through the program, kids are sent home every Friday with backpacks full of nutritious food to last them until school on Monday. Food is also provided during school breaks.

The donation is part of a $500,000 commitment Hannaford made to child nutrition and hunger relief. Half of that money is being raised through the new Chef’s Table program, a partnership between Hannaford and four chefs, including New World Bistro Bar owner Ric Orlando, with a financial match of $250,000 from the supermarket chain.

“Hannaford has been successful in substantially increasing our donations of fresh food to local food pantries,” said Mike Vail, president of Hannaford Supermarkets. “This support builds on that work and addresses a critical need that our community partners understand well — many families with children are stressed in meeting basic needs, including the essential need for nutritious food.”

Children are recommended for the Regional Food Bank’s BackPack Program by teachers and principals who see firsthand the nutritional needs of their students.

Student Hailey Fisk, 19, left, volunteers as part of the BackPack Program at Heatly School, which provides students in need with healthy food on the weekends and school breaks. (Skip Dickstein / Times Union)

Backpacks are filled with food and discreetly distributed to kids in need the day before weekends and holidays. Each bag contains six meals — two breakfasts, three lunch/dinner entrees and an extra snack.

Two-thirds of the 300-plus students in kindergarten through 12th grade at Heatly School are eligible to receive free and reduced meals. Thanks to the BackPack Program, students there will receive 13,500 meals through the 2022-23 academic year.

“Children who are hungry find it difficult to focus on academics,” said Teresa Thayer Snyder, superintendent of the Green Island district. “The BackPack Program gives students a sense of security that they won’t go to bed hungry.”

In 2017, Hannaford donated the equivalent of 20 million meals to food pantries and soup kitchens.

“Hannaford’s very generous grant will enable us to expand our BackPack Program to hundreds of additional children in schools not currently participating in the program,” added Mark Quandt, executive director of the Regional Food Bank.

The new Chef’s Table program features affordable recipes using fresh, quality ingredients created by chefs Orlando, Kerry Altiero, Kathy Gunst and David Turin in stores throughout the grocery chain.

Shoppers who purchase at least three participating products will trigger a $2 donation from Hannaford that will benefit child nutrition efforts.

Orlando will be featured in Hannaford stores this summer, with a focus on seasonal grilling recipes. He is also a longtime supporter of the Regional Food Bank, which last year distributed 38 million pounds of food.

“There is deep commitment in the chef community to fighting hunger.” Orlando said.